Planet Wrecker

-62-

As Hawthorne looked up, small Colonel Manteuffel entered the underground Joho office. The officer wore a gun and a grim expression.

“Cone wishes to speak with you, sir,” Manteuffel said.

“Have you enlisted the other officers yet?” asked Hawthorne.

“I have. But Cone, sir, she’s angry, and I think more than a little worried.” Manteuffel hesitated.

Hawthorne had been watching the space battle through the monitor on his desk. This was a cramped room, lacking windows because it was underground. The recycled air was too cold and felt too much like a morgue.

“In your estimation,” Hawthorne said, “is Cone worried enough to do something rash?”

“I’m not a security expert, sir.”

“You’d better become one, Colonel, and quickly.”

“Why me, sir?” asked Manteuffel. “I still don’t understand. I’m a cybertank expert.”

These past days, Hawthorne had made some swift and critical security changes. Cone remained underground here in the Joho Command Bunker. But her people no longer guarded anything. In fact, they were no longer her people, as Hawthorne had stripped her of authority. Colonel Manteuffel was now the Chief of Hawthorne’s Personal Security. Manteuffel’s people were all higher-grade officers, and daily practiced at a firing range to gain needed proficiency.

“The easy answer is that I trust you,” Hawthorne said.

“Because of what happened with the cybertank several years ago?”

“That’s right,” Hawthorne said. “You were with me in the bleak days. You risked everything then because you believed in me and in my plan. I want true believers around me, people I can implicitly trust, and who make wise decisions.”

“I’ll do my best, sir.”

“What does Cone have to say to me?” asked Hawthorne.

“It’s concerning the Free Earth Corps.”

Hawthorne sat back, picking up a smooth metallic ball. Rolling it in his palm, he wondered what was the correct course of action. After watching the space battle and the destruction of the Orion-ships, he realized that Cassius was too clever for him. It wasn’t only the order of the landings, but the use of the Doom Stars. It was obvious now that Cassius meant to stand back and beam the asteroids with the ultra-heavy lasers. The Grand Admiral wasn’t going to risk his super-ships. The Fifth Fleet remained with the Gustavus Adolphus. If the battleships wished to fight, they’d have to close in and likely face destruction. If the battleships remained where they were, after the fight with the asteroids, those SU warships would be hostage to the Doom Star.

“I have to strike before Cassius does,” Hawthorne said.

“Sir?” asked Manteuffel.

“But if I strike too soon, Cassius might decide to let the asteroids hit Earth.”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Manteuffel said.

“No? Well, let Cone in. Then you stand in the corner over there and listen to our conversation. Afterward, I’m sure you’ll understand. Oh, by the way, make sure she’d unarmed.”

“Yes sir,” Manteuffel said, saluting, striding for the door.